Handbag, pocketbook, purse, and the like



Sept. 3, 1940. B, STEMBER 2,213,618

HNDBAG, POCKE'IBOOK, PURSE, 'AND THE LIKE Filed 001'.. 31, 1939 55 INVENTOR, Bernard Sfenyef. 47 e BY 5 6 m m 4' 42 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,213,618 c' HANDBAG, POCKETBOOK, PURSE, AND

LIKE

THE

Bernard Stember, East Orange, N. J.

ApplicationOctober 31, 1939, Serial No. 302,284

4 Claims. (Cl. 150-29) This invention relates to improvements in pocketbooks, handbags, purses, and the like and is more particularly directed toward improvements in the construction and mounting of a supplementary purse or pocketbook within the handbag; and also in the construction of a purse or the like per se.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a change or like purse having a concealed compartment. y

It is another object of this invention to mount the aforesaid purse within a handbag in such a manner as to normally conceal the secret compartment thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a purse, pocketbook or the like swingable into either one of two positions, namely, with the conventional compartment or pocket with its mouth uppermost and the'concealed or secret compartment or pocket lowermost, or vice versa and maintainable in either of said positions in order to provide easy access to the compartment to be used. A

These and other objects are attained by the novel and practical construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter disclosed and illustrated in the-accompanying drawing', constituting an essential part of the disclosure, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a handbag frame, embodying the invention, the handbag proper being shown in broken outline and the conventional mouth of the change purse uppermost;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, except that the changepurse is shown with its conventional mouth lowermost; Y

Fig. 3 isa cross-sectional viewtaken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the change purse in section;

Fig. 4 is' an end elevational view of the change purse embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial detail view of the hinge of the handbag frame;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 1--1 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the main frame member in open position.

Referring now tothe drawing there is disclosed a handbag I5 having a main frame I6 made up of two jaws or members 3|, 32, each being preferably channelled or U-shapedin section. Locking means I1 are provided to maintain the -jaws 3|, 32 in closed position. At each end I8 the two main frame members or jaws 3|, 32 are hinged or pivoted on an elongated hinge pin I 9. Pin' I9 passes through a sleeve 20 having at one end thereof an enlarged collar 2|, while the coil 22' of a spring 33 is securely fastened at 5 the other end of said sleevev20. The collar 2| is provided with two substantially diametrically opposed recesses 23, 23a, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Pivotally mounted on pins I9 near the ends 24 10 is an auxiliary or change purse frame 25 comprising the members or jaws 38, 31, maintainable in closed relation by a lock 26.

Locking member 21 is secured near each end of said secondary or auxiliary frame 25, having 16 a spring-hook portion 28 adapted to engage, respectively, the two recesses 23, 23a,'of the collar 2|, thereby holding the auxiliary frame 25 securely in either up or down position. The spring 33 consists of thecoil member 22 securely fastened to one end of the sleeve 20 and two leg members 29, 30, which are tted within the two channel-shaped frame members 3|, 32 oi the main frame I6. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 8,

ii.' the frame members 3|, 32 of the main frame 25 I6 are spread apart in the purse-opening process, the two legs 29, 39 of the spring 33, assure that the coil 22 and its sleeve 20 will always remain in' a central position inV relation to the center line of the purse, thereby making certain that the purse will be always locked in a central location in relation to the handbag. 'I'he purse or body 35 comprises frame 25 made up of two frame members or jaws 36, 31, the ends of whichare hingedly or pivotedly mounted on pins I9. The 3 frame 25 of purse 35 may open into the conventional pocket or compartment 38, while at thev end 40 opposite frame 25, the said purse has a mouth opening 42 provided with a closure means, such as the slide fastener means 4| for selectively opening and closing the mouth opening 42 leading to another compartment or pocket 43. 'I'he purse in its preferable construction is provided with the outer walls 44, 45 to the bottom lloi. which are fastened the slide fastener stringers 45 46, 41 and tothese stringers 46, 41 are secured the inside walls 48, 49 of compartment 43, the said walls 48, 49 being joined together at their inner ends by stitches 5|).v The inner lining of pocket or compartment 39 comprises the walls 50 5|, 52 joined together at their in'ner or lower ends by the line of stitching 53. 'Ihe upper ends of inner wall 5| and outer wall 45 are clamped at 54 within the channel of frame member or jaw 31, while the outer wall 44 and inner wall 52 55 are clamped at within the frame member or jaw 36. The stringers 46, 41 are preferably arranged below the edges 56, 51 of the purse end `40, so as to be substantially concealed from view.

To manipulate the purse 35 for its dual purpose when applied as part of a handbag or like structure, if it is desired to utilize or extract an article from compartment or pocket 39, the purse is swung or rotated to a position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. 1

The purse is maintained in this position by the fact that the spring hook 281 of locking member 21 will. engage the collar 2| Within.' recess 23. Now if lt is desired to utilize or extract an article from compartment or pocket 43, the purse 35 is swung by the hand to a position shown in Fig. 2 and the purse will now be maintained in this position by engagement of spring hook 28 with collar 2| within recess 23a.

It is apparent that there has been herein provided a purse, pocketbook or the like comprising frame 25 having a pair of substantially U- shaped rigid members 36, 31, al body 35 depending at its top from the members 36, 31 and having two non-communicatable pockets or compartments 39 and 43, respectively therein, a partition in the body separating these pockets, there being provided a mouth opening at the top of the body 35 between members 36, 31 and communicating with pocket 39, and another mouth opening 42 through the bottom 40 of the body 35 communicating with pocket 43, the-bottom o! pocket 39 being `adjacent the mouth opening or top 42 of pocket 43, and the bottom of pocket 43 being adjacent the top'or mouth opening 60 of pocket 39. The partition separating the pockets may be formed by the adjacent walls 49, 52 of the pockets, respectively; or said walls 49, 50 may be combined or constructed to form a single wall, the mouth opening 42 at the bottom 40 ofV the purse body being preferably closed by concealed fastening means, so that when the purse is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it is not evident that a secret pocket exists at the bottom of the purse, the frame 25 providing a means by which the purse may be gripped by one hand of the user in order that pocket 43 may be opened and gained access to by the other hand of the user, when used independently of the handbag I5. There has been further provided means connecting the members 3l, 32 oi the main frame I6 and the elements 36, 31 of the frame 25 for relative swinging movements and velements 36, 31 for joint rotatable movement for rotating or swinging the purse body, so that either mouth opening may be positioned at .the top and the purse releasably maintained in this position. y

It is understood that the said purse may be used either in conjunction with a pocketbookor handbag to which it may be swingably or pivotally connected, or as a separate and independent article.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is apparent that an improved simple, practical and inexpensive device for the purpose intended is provided. It is apparent, however, that immaterial changes and modications may be made by skilled personswithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as outlined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In` combination with a ladys handbag,

purse or the like having a main frame comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members, means pivotally arranging saidfmembers at their ends for relative swinging movement. and a main body depending from said members providing a main pocket therebelow with the opening of said main pocket therebetween; ot a second frame comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped elements arranged on said means for relative swinging movement and joint rotatable movement, another body depending at its top from said elements and being provided with one pocket having its opening between said elements and with a second pocket having its opening at the bottom of said other body, the opening of said one pocket being ciosable by said elements, complementary fastening means for closing the opening of said second pocket, said other body extending within said main pocket and being rotatable with said elements whereby the top and bottom of said other body may be selectively presented uppermost for gaining access to the respective pockets therein, and means for retaining said other body with either its top or bottom in uppermost position.

2. In a ladys handbag, purse or the like having a main frame comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped members, means pivotally arranging said members at their ends for 'relative swinging movement, a main b ody depending from said members providing a main pocket therebelow with the mouth of said main pocket between said member, and a second frame having a pair of U-shaped substantially rigid elements arranged on said means for relative swinging movement and joint rotatable movement, the combination with the second frame, of a second body connected therewith and having side walls, said side walls being separated at their tops and at their bottoms providing a top opening between said walls and a bottom opening between said walls for said second body, a partition extending between said walls and having a portion secured with one of said side walls at said top opening to one of said elements and having another portion secured to the other of said side walls at said bottom opening whereby one pocket is formed between said one of said side walls and said partition having said top opening for the reception oi articles therein and whereby anv other pocket is formed 'between the said lother o1' said side walls and said partition having said bottom opening for the reception of articles therein, said one and another pockets being nonv communicatable, the said other of said walls being secured at said top opening to the other of said elements, complementary fastening means for closing the said bottom opening, said second body extending within said main pocket and being rotatable with said elements whereby the top and bottom of said second body may be selectively presented uppermost for gaining access y to the respective pockets therein.

3. A purse or the like comprising a frame having a pair of substantially U-shaped rigid elements hinged together at the ends thereof, a flexible body having side walls, said side walls being separated at their tops and at their bot-- toms providing a top opening between said walls and a bottom opening between said walls for said body, a partition extendingbetween said walls and secured to one of said side walls and to one of said elements at said top opening and to the other of said side walls at said bottom opening whereby a pocket is formed between said one o! said side Walls and said partition having said top opening for the reception of articles therein and whereby another pocket is formed'between the said other of said side walls and said partition having said bottom opening-for the reception of articles therein, said pockets being noncommunicatable, the said other of said walls being secured at said top opening to the other of said elements, and complementary fastening means extending along said bottom opening substantially throughout the length thereof for clos'- ing the same, said rigid elements holding the purse extended for opening and closing of thel fastening means.

4. A purse or the like comprising a frame having a pair of U-shaped substantially rigid elements hinged together at the ends thereof, a flexible body having side walls, said side walls being separated at their tops and at their bot- 20 toms providing a top opening between said walls and a bottom opening between said wallsfor said body, a partition extending between. said walls and having a portion secured with one of said side walls at said top opening to one of said elements and having another portion secured to the other of said side walls at said bottom opening whereby a pocket is formed between said one ofsaid side walls and said partition having said top opening `for the reception of articles therein and whereby another pocket 'is formed between the said other ofsaid side walls and said partition having said bottom opening for the reception of articles therein, said pockets being non-coninunicatable, the s aid other of said walls' being secured at said top opening to the other of said elements, said rigid elements holding the purse extended for' gaining vaccessl to said another pocket through the bottom opening.

BERNARD STEMBER. 

